Pete Carroll names Russell Wilson regular-season starter

Coach Pete Carroll made that announcement in a conference call with Seattle reporters on Sunday evening.

"He's earned this job," Carroll said. "It was a legitimate competition as we said from the beginning and with the opportunity he's taken advantage of, he deserves to start."

Wilson was chosen in the third round by Seattle. He was part of a three-way competition for the starting job. Matt Flynn will be the backup after being signed in the offseason as a free agent from Green Bay.

Flynn's reaction to the news?

"He's disappointed," Carroll said. "Matt came here to be the starter, and he took it exactly the way I think a great competitor would."

Carroll said that Flynn's arm injury -- while it's not considered serious -- did have an impact. Specifically, he wasn't able to present a counterargument on Friday in Kansas City. Flynn was slated to enter the game in the third quarter and likely would have had at least one series with the team's first-unit offense before the Seahawks turned to the backups. But a sore elbow prevented Flynn from playing.

"I think it makes the decision clearer," Carroll said. "Unfortunately, Matt has not been able to answer and respond by playing last week and again this week as much as we would like for his sake."

As for the severity of the injury? Carroll said it's a muscle inflammation, and while he wasn't able to throw Sunday, it's not considered an injury that will threaten his season.

As for Tarvaris Jackson, the team's expectation is that he will be traded to Buffalo though that deal has not been finalized, according to Carroll.

"He deserves a chance to be playing so Buffalo came after him," Carroll said. "I hope it's a good thing for him. He did a great job for us and he proved everything you'd ever want to see out of a competitor."

THROWN INTO THE FIRE

Russell Wilson was chosen No. 75 overall in this year's draft, the highest pick the Seahawks have used on a quarterback since 1993, which is also the last time a rookie started a game at quarterback for Seattle:

Rookie starter

Year

As starter

Drafted

Rick Mirer

1993

6-10

1st round (No. 2 overall)

Dan McGwire

1991

1-0

1st round (No. 16 overall)

Kelly Stouffer*

1988

3-3

1st round* (No. 6 overall)

Jim Zorn

1976

2-12

Undrafted

*Stouffer was drafted in 1987 by the Cardinals, but never signed with them. His first NFL season was 1988.